You may so in the end. My mother told me just how he would woo, [Exit. Marry that will, I'll live and die a maid: Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin To cozen him, that would unjustly win. SCENE III.-The Florentine camp. Enter the two French Lords, and two or three Soldiers. 1 Lord. You have not given him his mother's letter? 2 Lord. I have delivered it an hour since: there is something in't that stings his nature; for, on the reading it, he changed almost into another man. 1 Lord. He has much worthy blame laid upon him, for shaking off so good a wife, and so sweet a lady. 2 Lord. Especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king, who had even tuned his bounty to sing happiness to him. I will tell you a thing, but you shall let it dwell darkly with you. 1 Lord. When you have spoken it, 'tis dead, and I am the grave of it. of her last breath, and now she sings in heaven. 2 Lord. How is this justified? 1 Lord. The stronger part of it by her own let ters; which makes her story true, even to the point of her death: her death itself, which could not be her office to say, is come, was faithfully confirmed by the rector of the place. 2 Lord. Hath the count all this intelligence? 1 Lord. Ay, and the particular confirmations, point from point, to the full arming of the verity. 2 Lord. I am heartily sorry, that he'll be glad of this. 1 Lord. How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses! 2 Lord. And how mightly, some other times, we drown our gain in tears! The great dignity, that his valour hath here acquired for him, shall at home be encountered with a shame as ample. 1 Lord. The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together; our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherish'd by our virtues. Enter a Servant. How now? where's your master? Serv. He met the duke in the street, sir, of whom he hath taken a solemn leave; his lordship 2 Lord. He hath perverted a young gentlewo- will next morning for France. The duke hath ofman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; fered him letters of commendations to the king. and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her 2 Lord. They shall be no more than needful honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, there, if they were more than they can commend. and thinks himself made in the unchaste composi tion. 1 Lord. Now, God delay our rebellion; as we are ourselves, what things are we! Enter Bertram. 1 Lord. They cannot be too sweet for the king's tartness. Here's his lordship now. How now, my lord, is't not after midnight? 2 Lord. Merely our own traitors. And as in the common course of all treasons, we still see them Ber. I have to-night despatched sixteen busireveal themselves, till they attain to their abhorred nesses, a month's length a piece, by an abstract of ends; so he, that in this action contrives against success: I have conge'd with the duke, done my his own nobility, in his proper stream o'erflows adieu with his nearest; buried a wife, mourned for himself. 2 her; writ to my lady mother, I am returning; en 1 Lord. Is it not meant damnable in us, to be tertained my convoy; and, between these main trumpeters of our unlawful intents? We shall not parcels of despatch, effected many nicer needs; then have his company to-night? the last was the greatest, but that I have not 2 Lord. Not till after midnight; for he is dieted ended yet. to his hour. 2 Lord. If the business be of any difficulty, and 1 Lord. That approaches apace: I would gladly this morning your departure hence, it requires have him see his company anatomized; that he haste of your lordship. might take a measure of his own judgments, Ber. I mean, the business is not ended, as fearwherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit. 2 Lord. We will not meddle with him till he come; for his presence must be the whip of the other. 1 Lord. In the mean time, what hear you of these wars? ing to hear of it hereafter: But shall we have this dialogue between the fool and the soldier ?—— Come, bring forth this counterfeit module; he has deceived me, like a double-meaning prophesier. 2 Lord. Bring him forth: [Exeunt Soldiers.] he has sat in the stocks all night, poor gallant knave. Ber. No matter; his heels have deserv'd it, in usurping his spurs so long. How does he carry himself? 2 Lord. I hear, there is an overture of peace. 1 Lord. Nay, I assure you, a peace concluded. 2 Lord. What will count Rousillon do then? will he travel higher, or return again into France? 1 Lord. I have told your lordship already: the 1 Lord. I perceive, by this demand, you are not altogether of his council. 2 Lord. Let it be forbid, sir! so should I be a great deal of his act. stocks carry him. But, to answer you as you would be understood; he weeps, like a wench that had shed her milk: he hath confessed himself to Morgan, whom he supposes to be a friar, from the 1 Lord. Sir, his wife, some two months since, time of his remembrance, to this very instant disfled from his house: her pretence is a pilgrimage to aster of his setting i' the stocks: And what think Saint Jaques le grand; which holy undertaking, you he hath confessed? with most austere sanctimony, she accomplished: and, there residing, the tenderness of her nature became as a prey to her grief; in fine, made a groan Ber. Nothing of me, has he? 2 Lord. His confession is taken, and it shall be read to his face: if your lordship be in't, as, I be lieve you are, you must have the patience to not possible, with well-weighing sums of gold, to hear it. corrupt him to a revolt. What say you to this? what do you know of it? Re-enter Soldiers, with Parolles. Be A plague upon him! muffled! he can say nothing of me; hush! hush! 1 Lord. Hoodman comes !-Porto tartarossa. 1 Sold. He calls for the tortures; What will you say without 'em? Par. I will confess what I know without constraint; if ye pinch me like a pasty, I can say no Par. An truly, as I hope to live. 1 Sold. First demand of him how many horse the duke is strong. What say you to that? Par. Five or six thousand; but very weak and unserviceable: the troops are all scattered, and the commanders very poor rogues, upon my reputation and credit, and as I hope to live. 1 Sold. Shall I set down your answer so? Par. Do; I'll take the sacrament on't, how and which way you will. Ber. All's one to him. What a past-saving slave is this! 1 Lord. You are deceived, my lord; this is monsieur Parolles, the gallant militarist, (that was his own phrase,) that had the whole theoric1 of war in the knot of his scarf, and the practice in the chape of his dagger. 2 Lord. I will never trust a man again, for keep ing his sword clean; nor believe he can have every ching in him, by wearing his apparel neatly. 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. Five or six thousand horse, I said,-I will say true, or thereabouts, set down,-for I'll speak truth. Par. I beseech you, let me answer to the particular of the intergatories: Demand them singly. 1 Sold. Do you know this captain Dumain? Par. I know him: he was a botcher's 'prentice the sheriff's fool with child; a dumb innocent, in Paris, from whence he was whipped for getting that could not say him, nay. [Dumain lifts up his hand in anger. Ber. Nay, by your leave, hold your hands; though I know, his brains are forfeit to the next title that falls. 1 Sold. Well, is this captain in the duke of Florence's camp? Par. Upon my knowledge, he is, and lousy. 1 Lord. Nay, look not so upon me; we shall hear of your lordship anon. 1 Sold. What is his reputation with the duke? Par. The duke knows him for no other but a poor officer of mine; and writ to me this other day, to turn him out o' the band: I think, I have his letter in my pocket. 1 Sold. Marry, we'll search. Par. In good sadness, I do not know; either it is there, or it is upon a file, with the duke's other letters, in my tent. it 1 Sold. Here 'tis; here's a paper? Shall I read Par. I do not know, if it be it, or no. 1 Lord. Excellently. 1 Sold. Dian. The count's a fool, and full of gold, advertisement to a proper maid in Florence, one Par. That is not the duke's letter, sir; that is an Diana, to take heed of the allurement of one count Rousillon, a foolish idle boy, but, for all that, very ruttish; I pray you, sir, put it up again. 1 Sold. Nay, I'll read it first, by your favour. Par. My meaning in't, I protest, was very na-honest in the behalf of the maid: for I knew the young count to be a dangerous and lascivious boy who is a whale to virginity, and devours up all the fry it finds. 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. Par. I humbly thank you, sir: a truth's a truth, the rogues are marvellous poor. 1 Sold. Demand of him, of what strength they are afoot. What say you to that. Ber. Damnable, both sides rogue! 1 Sold. When he swears oaths, bid him drop Half won, is match well made; match, and well Par. By my troth, sir, if I were to live this present hour, I will tell true. Let me see: Spurio a hundred and fifty, Sebastian so many, Corambus He ne'er pays after-debts, take it before; so many, Jaques so many; Guiltian, Cosmo, Lodo- And say, a soldier, Dian, told thee this, wick, and Gratii, two hundred fifty each: mine Men are to mell with, boys are not to kiss: own company, Chitopher, Vaumond, Bentii, two For count of this, the count's a fool, I know it, hundred and fifty each: so that the muster-file, Who pays before, but not when he does owe it. rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifThine, as he vow'd to thee in thine ear, PAROLLES. teen thousand poll; half of which dare not shake the snow from off their cassocks,' lest they shake Ber. He shall be whipped through the army, with themselves to pieces. this rhyme in his forehead. Ber. What shall be done to him. I Lord. Nothing, but let him have thanks. Demand of him my conditions, and what credit I have with the duke. 2 Lord. This is your devoted friend, sir, the manifold linguist, and the armipotent soldier. Ber. I could endure any thing before but a cat, and now he's a cat to me. 1 Sold. Well, that's set down. You shall demand of him, whether one captain Dumain be 'we shall be fain to hang you. the camp, a Frenchman; what his reputation is with the duke, what his valour, honesty, and expertness in wars; or whether he thinks, it were 1 Sold. I perceive, sir, by the general's looks, (1) Theory. (2) The point of the scabbard. Par. My life, sir, in any case: not that I am afraid to die; but that, my offences being many, would repent out the remainder of nature: let me (5) For interrogatories. (6) A natural fool. (7) i. e. A match well made is half won; may, your match therefore, but make it well. live, sir, in a dungeon, i' the stocks, or any where, so I may live. So, look about you; Know you any here? 2 Lord. God bless you, captain Parolles. 1 Sold. We'll see what may be done, so you confess freely; therefore, once more to this captain Dumain: You have answered to his reputation with the duke, and to his valour: What is his honesty? Par. He will steal, sir, an egg out of a cloister; for rapes and ravishments he parallels Nessus. He 1 Lord. Good captain, will you give me a copy professes not keeping of oaths; in breaking them, of the sonnet you writ to Diana in behalf of the count he is stronger than Hercules. He will lie, sir, with Rousillon? an I were not a very coward, I'd compel such volubility, that you would think truth were a it of you; but fare you well. [Exe. Ber. Lords, &c. fool: drunkenness is his best virtue; for he will be 1 Sold. You are undone, captain: all but your swine-drunk; and in his sleep he does little harm, scarf, that has a knot on't yet. save to his bed-clothes about him; but they know Par. Who cannot be crushed with a plot? his conditions, and lay him in straw. I have but 1 Sold. If you could find out a country where little more to say, sir, of his honesty: he has every but women were that had received so much shame, thing that an honest man should not have; what you might begin an impudent nation. Fare you an honest man should have, he has nothing. well, sir; I am for France too; we shall speak of 1 Lord. I begin to love him for this. you there. Ber. For this description of thine honesty? A pox upon him for me, he is more and more a cat. 1 Sold. What say you to his expertness in war? Par. Faith, sir, he has led the drum before the As captain shall: simply the thing I am English tragedians,—to belie him, I will not, and Shall make me live. Who knows himself a braggart, more of his soldiership I know not; except, in that Let him fear this; for it will come to pass, country, he had the honour to be the officer at a That every braggart shall be found an ass. place there call'd Mile-end, to instruct for the Rust, sword! cool, blushes! and, Parolles, live doubling of files: I would do the man what honour Safest in shame! being fool'd, by foolery thrive! I can, but of this I am not certain. There's place, and means, for every man alive. I'll after them. 1 Lord. He hath out-villained villany so far that the rarity redeems him. Ber. A pox on him! he's a cat still. 1 Sold. His qualities being at this poor price, I need not ask you, if gold will corrupt him to revolt. Par. Sir, for a quart d'ecu3 he will sell the feesimple of his salvation, the inheritance of it; and cut the entail from all remainders, and a perpetual succession for it perpetually. [Erit. Par. Yet am I thankful: if my heart were great, Twould burst at this: Captain I'll be no more; But I will eat and drink, and sleep as soft [Erit. SCENE IV.-Florence. A room in the Widow's house. Enter Helena, Widow, and Diana. Hel. One of the greatest in the Christian world Shall be my surety; 'fore whose throne, 'tis needful, Ere I can perfect mine intents, to kneel: That you may well perceive I have not wrong'd you, 1 Sold. What's his brother, the other captain Time was, I did him a desired office, Dumain? 2 Lord. Why does he ask him of me? 1 Sold. What's he? Dear almost as his life; which gratitude Par. E'en a crow of the same nest; not altogether His grace is at Marseilles; to which place so great as the first in goodness, but greater a great We have convenient convoy. You must know, deal in evil. He excels his brother for a coward, I am supposed dead: the army breaking, yet his brother is reputed one of the best that is: In My husband hies him home; where, heaven aiding, a retreat he outruns any lackey; marry, in coming And by the leave of my good lord the king, on he has the cramp. 1 Sold. If your life be saved, will you undertake to betray the Florentine? Pur. Ay, and the captain of his horse, count Rousillon. We'll be, before our welcome. Gentle madam, Hel. 1 Sold. I'll whisper with the general, and know Ever a friend, whose thoughts more truly labour Nor you, mistress, his pleasure. Par. I'll no more drumming; a plague of all Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower, To recompense your love; doubt not, but Heaven drums! Only to seem to deserve well, and to be- As it hath fated her to be my motives guile the supposition of that lascivious young boy And helper to a husband. But, O strange men! the count, have I run into this danger: Yet, who That can such sweet use make of what they hate, would have suspected an ambush where I was When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts [Aside. Defiles the pitchy night! so lust doth play taken? 1 Sold. There is no remedy, sir, but you must with what it loaths, for that which is away: die: the general says, you, that have so traitorously But more of this hereafter:-You, Diana, discovered the secrets of your army, and made such Under my poor instructions yet must suffer pestiferous reports of men very nobly held, can Something in my behalf. serve the world for no honest use; therefore you must die. Come, headsman, off with his head. Par. O Lord, sir; let me live, or let me see my death! 1 Sold. That shall you, and take your leave (1) i. e. He will steal any thing however trifling, from any place however holy. (2) The Centaur killed by Hercules. (3) The fourth part of the smaller French crown. Dia. Go with your impositions, Hel. Let death and honesty Yet, I pray you,- (4) To deceive the opinion. (6) Lascivious. And be as sweet as sharp. We must away; be jade's tricks; which are their own right by the Laf. A shrewd knave, and an unhappy." SCENE V.-Rousillon. A room in the Countess's Palace. Enter Countess, Lafeu, and Clown. Laf. No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow there; whose villanous saffron Laf. I like him well: 'tis not amiss: and I was would have made all the unbaked and doughy about to tell you, since I heard of the good lady's youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-death, and that my lord your son was upon his relaw had been alive at this hour; and your son turn home, I moved the king my master, to speak here at home, more advanced by the king, than by in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minothat red-tailed humble-bee I speak of. rity of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gra Count. I would, I had not known him! it was cious remembrance, did first propose: his highthe death of the most virtuous gentlewoman, that ness hath promised me to do it: and, to stop up ever nature had praise for creating: if she had par- the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, taken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship of a mother, I could not have owed her a more like it? rooted love. Count. With very much content, my lord, and I Laf. 'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we wish it happily effected. may pick a thousand salads, ere we light on such another herb. Clo. Indeed, sir, she was the sweet-marjoram of the salad, or, rather the herb of grace. Laf. They are not salad-herbs, you knave, they are nose-herbs. Clo. I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have not much skill in grass. Laf. Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave, or a fool? Clo. A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's. Clo. At your service. Laf. No, no, no. Clo. Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are. Laf. Who's that? a Frenchman? Clo. Faith, sir, he has an English name: but his phisnomy is more hotter in France, than there. Laf. What prince is that? Clo. The black prince, sir, alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil. Laf. Hold thee, there's my purse: I give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkest of; serve him still. Laf. His highness comes post from Marseilles, of as able body as when he numbered thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceived by him that in such intelligence hath seldom failed. Count. It rejoices me, that I hope I shall see him ere I die. I have letters, that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain with me till they meet together. Laf. Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might safely be admitted. Count. You need but plead your honourable privilege. Laf. Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet. Re-enter Clown. Clo. O madam, yonder's my lord your son with under it, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of twopile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare. Laf. A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour; so, belike, is that. Clo. But it is your carbonadoed face. fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow ACT V. Clo. I am a woodland fellow, sir, that always SCENE I.-Marseilles. A street. Enter Helena, Laf. Go thy ways, I begin to be a-weary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well looked to, without any tricks. Clo. If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall one, Enter a gentle Astringer." This man may help me to his majesty's ear, If Hel. Sir, I have seen you in the court of France. (5) Mischievously unhappy, waggish. too late to pare her nails now. Wherein have you played the knave with fortune, that she should scratch you, who of herself is a good lady, and would not have knaves thrive long under her? There's a quart d'ecu for you: Let the justices make you and fortune friends; I am for other busi ness. Par. I beseech your honour, to hear me one single word. Laf. You beg a single penny more: come, you shall ha't; save your word.' Par. My name, my good lord, is Parolles. Laf. You beg more than one word, then.-Cox' my passion! give me your hand:-How does your drum? Par. O my good lord, you were the first that found me. Laf. Was I, in sooth? and I was the first that Lord, how we lose our pains! Hel. I do beseech you, sir, This I'll do for you. Hel. And you shall find yourself to be well thank'd, Par. It lies in you, my lord, to bring me in some grace, for you did bring me out. Laf. Out upon thee, knave! dost thou put upon me at once both the office of God and the devil? one brings thee in grace, and the other brings thee out. [Trumpets sound.] The king's coming, I know by his trumpets.-Sirrah, inquire further after me; I had talk of you last night: though you are a fool and a knave, you shall eat; go to, follow. Par. I praise God for you. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in the Countess's Palace. Flourish. Enter King, Countess, Lafeu, Lords, Gentlemen, guards, &c. King. We lost a jewel of her; and our esteem? Was made much poorer by it: but your son, As mad in folly, lack'd the sense to know Her estimation home.3 Count. 'Tis past, my liege Whate'er falls more.-We must to horse again;Go, go, provide. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Rousillon. The inner court of the Countess's Palace. Enter Clown and Parolles. Par. Good monsieur Lavatch, give my lord Lafeu this letter: I have ere now, sir, been better known And I beseech your majesty to make it to you, when I have held familiarity with fresher Natural rebellion, done i'the blaze of youth; clothes; but I am now, sir, muddied in fortune's When oil and fire, too strong for reason's force, moat, and smell somewhat strong of her strong O'erbears it, and burns on. displeasure. King. My honour'd lady, Clo. Truly, fortune's displeasure is but sluttish, have forgiven and forgotten all; if it smell so strong as thou speakest of: I will Though my revenges were high bent upon him, henceforth eat no fish of fortune's buttering. And watcli'd the time to shoot. Pr'ythee, allow the wind. This I must say,But first I beg my pardon,-The young lord Did to his majesty, his mother, and his lady, Offence of mighty note; but to himself Par. Nay, you need not stop your nose, sir; I spake but by a metaphor. Laf. Clo. Indeed, sir, if your metaphor stink, I will stop my nose; or against any man's metaphor.-The greatest wrong of all: he lost a wife, Pr'ythee, get thee further. Par. Pray you, sir, deliver me this paper. Clo. Foh, pr'ythee, stand away; A paper from fortune's close-stool to give to a nobleman! Look, here he comes himself. Enter Lafeu. Whose beauty did astonish the survey Of richest eyes; whose words all ears took captive; Here is a pur of fortune's, sir, or of fortune's cat, We are reconcil'd, and the first view shall kill [Exit Clown. Par. My lord, I am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratched. Laf. And what would you have me to do? 'tis (1) You need not ask ;-here it is. (2) Reckoning or estimate. (3) Completely, in its full extent. Gent. I shall, my liege. [Exit Gentleman. King. What says he to your daughter? have you spoke? and to have nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands.' (5) i. e. The first interview shall put an end to So in As you like It-to have seen much all recollection of the past. |
